Fifa: No decision yet on World Cup 2022 in Qatar

Fifa has insisted no decision has been made over when to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, despite its secretary-general Jerome Valcke telling French radio it will not be in the summer. Qatar say it "will be ready to host the World Cup regardless".

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The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said it will be ready to host the World Cup "regardless of the outcome" of FIFA's consultation period on the issue.

The committee said in a statement:

During the FIFA Executive Committee meeting in October, it was agreed that FIFA would enter a period of consultation on the ideal time of year to host the World Cup in Qatar– with a recommendation expected after the World Cup in Brazil.

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FIFA has said in a statement that Jerome Valcke's comments on moving the Qatar World Cup were his own view and that no decision had been taken on the timing.

In a statement they said: "Secretary General Jerome Valcke explained today in the Radio France interview - as he had already mentioned previously - that in his view the 2022 FIFA World Cup must take place in winter and the best possible time frame would be 15 November to 15 January.

FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke made his comments on a French radio station. Credit: Adam Davy/PA Wire

"However, the precise event date is still subject to an ongoing consultation process which involves all main event stakeholders, including both the international football community as well as FIFA's commercial partners.

"As the event will not be played until eight years' time the consultation process will not be rushed and will be given the necessary time to consider all of the elements relevant for a decision.

"Consequently, no decision will be taken before the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil as agreed by the FIFA executive committee."

Britain's FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce said he was "totally surprised" at the statement the Qatar World Cup was to be moved - and confirmed the decision had to be taken by the executive committee.

He told Press Association Sport: "I was totally surprised this morning when I heard what Jerome has said.

Britain's FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce. Credit: Press Association

"As I understand it all the stakeholders will have discussions and report back to the executive committee of FIFA and no final decision will be made on when the 2022 World Cup would be played until December 2014 or March 2015.

"As far as I am concerned that remains the situation and there has been nothing said to me to make that any different."

Boyce, from Northern Ireland, said Valcke "may have been stating his personal opinion".

He also said there had been a general assumption that the 2022 World Cup could not be played in the summer due to the heat. That view has previously been expressed by UEFA's 54 member countries and FIFA president Sepp Blatter but no decision on alternative dates has been taken.